Hermitude Mirror Mountain

Hermitude’s seventh album is a love letter to their scenic Blue Mountains base, nestled two hours from Sydney. True to that concept, the production duo of Luke Dubs and El Gusto bring equal parts serenity and nuance to these shape-shifting electronic soundscapes. You can hear a blissful aura in the ambient tones of opener “St Claire,” despite its steady climb in tempo. The duo’s bright, bendy hooks are on full display as well, especially when paired with vocal guests. The Jungle Giants frontman Sam Hales lends a giddy uplift of indie pop to “When You Feel Like This,” while fellow Blue Mountains artist Andie adds airy cool to the ’90s rave flashback “Promises,” which includes quirky field recordings from a local community hall. Such DIY touches are characteristic of the pair, even during the album’s mellower second half. Playfully flirting with pop and hip-hop, Hermitude crafts body-moving music that doesn’t neglect the brain along the way.